nearsighted

Tablet and smartphone use can lead to nearsightedness among children, according to a study by Erasmus MC. The researchers monitored 1,000 Rotterdam children for years. At age 13 a quarter of them were near sighted, compared to 2.5 percent at age 6, RTL Nieuws reports.

Eyesight problems therefore increased over the years. Smartphones and tablets may be behind it, the researchers believe. The researchers assume that similar figures apply to children in the rest of the Netherlands. Looking at nearby objects for prolonged periods is bad for the eyes.